Houston Dash Sarah Hagen contributing to Chicago’s score with the own goal (Photo by Don MacGregor).
BRIDGEVIEW, IL–The Chicago Red Stars continued their stellar form at Toyota Park with a 2-0 win over the Houston Dash.
The Red Stars dominated possession in the first half, but appeared that they would go into the half goalless. However, Danielle Colaprico’s free kick in the 44th minute was inadvertently headed in by Houston’s Sarah Hagen for the opening score.
Houston had a little better possession in the second half, but were largely unable to bother Alyssa Naeher’s goal as they would only get two shots on target all match.
The Red Stars doubled their lead in the 61st minute when Christen Press sent a cross and Alyssa Mautz set up Julie Ertz for her second goal of the season.
“It was a lot of hard work by a lot of people keeping the ball alive,” said Ertz of the goal. “It kind of popped out from everyone really just scraping to keep the ball in and it landed where I was. Being a #6 today, I knew that second balls would be more where I would be able to score or help the team and that’s where I kind of ended up.”
The result was enough for Red Stars head coach Rory Dames to be “regular happy”.
Chicago Red Star Julie Ertz during their 2-0 win over the Houston Dash (Photo by Don MacGregor).
“I thought it was a very similar game to the three previous ones we played except we got a little fortunate in the first half,” said Dames. “It’s the first time it’s actually gone our way. Once we scored the second goal, we felt pretty good.
“We are getting in the good spots. Sometimes there’s a good save against us. Sometimes our quality just lets us down. But I thought as an overall group, our shape, and the defending side of it, we didn’t really give away a lot (save for one chance). Besides that, I thought we were pretty good as a group collectively.”
The Red Stars stay at home next week when they host Boston a week from Sunday. Kickoff is at 5pm on the go90 app.
SCORING SUMMARY:
CHI-Sarah Hagen (own goal) 44
CHI-Julie Ertz (Mautz) 61
BOOKING SUMMARY:
HOU-Bruna Benites (caution, tactical foul) 14
CHI-Christen Press (caution, persistent infringment) 83
CHICAGO RED STARS (4-3-3): #1-Alyssa Naeher; #3-Arin Gilliand (#14-Sarah Gorden 90), #6-Casey Short, #16-Samantha Johnston, #5-Katie Naughton, #6-Casey Short; #8-Julie Ertz, #24-Danielle Colaprico, #4-Alyssa Mautz; #11-Sofia Huerta, #23-Christen Press (C), #10-Vanessa DiBernardo (#9-Stepanie McCaffrey 80)
Subs Not Used: #18-Michele Dalton, #13-Morgan Proffitt, #2-Jen Hoy, #7-Taylor Comeau, #34-Mary Luba
HOUSTON DASH (4-3-3): #18-Lydia Williams; #5-Cari Roccaro, #4-Bruna Benites, #55-Janine Van Wyk, #22-Stephanie Ochs; #16-Janine Beckie (#27-Caity Heap 77), #12-Amber Brooks, #13-Denise O’Sullivan (#14-Nicelle Prince 46); #3-Rachel Daly, #9-Sarah Hagen (#6-Morgan Brian 72), #7-Kealia Ohai (C)
Subs not used: #1-Jane Campbell, #8-Claire Falknor, #2-Poliana, #23-Cambria Privett
TOTAL SHOTS: CHI 10-9 HOU
SHOTS ON GOAL: CHI 3-2 HOU
FOULS: CHI 12-8 HOU
OFFSIDES: CHI 4-1 HOU
CORNER KICKS: CHI 4-5 HOU
SAVES: CHI 2-2 HOU
Referee: Ekaterina Koroleva
Assistant Referees: Amanda Ross, Jeffrey Skinker
Fourth Official: Lukasz Szpala
Weather: Sunny and 56º
Attendance: 2,114
Woman of the Match: Christen Press (CHI)
